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annotate lispref/tips.texi @ 57921:a17e7dae99c0
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author | Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org> |
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date | Thu, 04 Nov 2004 02:26:43 +0000 |
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6552 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
27189 | 3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999 |
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4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
6552 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
6 @setfilename ../info/tips | |
30904 | 7 @node Tips, GNU Emacs Internals, GPL, Top |
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8 @appendix Tips and Conventions |
6552 | 9 @cindex tips |
10 @cindex standards of coding style | |
11 @cindex coding standards | |
12 | |
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13 This chapter describes no additional features of Emacs Lisp. Instead |
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14 it gives advice on making effective use of the features described in the |
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15 previous chapters, and describes conventions Emacs Lisp programmers |
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16 should follow. |
6552 | 17 |
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18 You can automatically check some of the conventions described below by |
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19 running the command @kbd{M-x checkdoc RET} when visiting a Lisp file. |
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20 It cannot check all of the conventions, and not all the warnings it |
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21 gives necessarily correspond to problems, but it is worth examining them |
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22 all. |
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23 |
6552 | 24 @menu |
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25 * Coding Conventions:: Conventions for clean and robust programs. |
6552 | 26 * Compilation Tips:: Making compiled code run fast. |
27 * Documentation Tips:: Writing readable documentation strings. | |
28 * Comment Tips:: Conventions for writing comments. | |
29 * Library Headers:: Standard headers for library packages. | |
30 @end menu | |
31 | |
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32 @node Coding Conventions |
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33 @section Emacs Lisp Coding Conventions |
6552 | 34 |
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35 Here are conventions that you should follow when writing Emacs Lisp |
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36 code intended for widespread use: |
6552 | 37 |
38 @itemize @bullet | |
39 @item | |
38162 | 40 Since all global variables share the same name space, and all |
41 functions share another name space, you should choose a short word to | |
42 distinguish your program from other Lisp programs.@footnote{The | |
43 benefits of a Common Lisp-style package system are considered not to | |
44 outweigh the costs.} Then take care to begin the names of all global | |
45 variables, constants, and functions in your program with the chosen | |
46 prefix. This helps avoid name conflicts. | |
6552 | 47 |
48 This recommendation applies even to names for traditional Lisp | |
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49 primitives that are not primitives in Emacs Lisp---even to |
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50 @code{copy-list}. Believe it or not, there is more than one plausible |
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51 way to define @code{copy-list}. Play it safe; append your name prefix |
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52 to produce a name like @code{foo-copy-list} or @code{mylib-copy-list} |
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53 instead. |
6552 | 54 |
55 If you write a function that you think ought to be added to Emacs under | |
56 a certain name, such as @code{twiddle-files}, don't call it by that name | |
57 in your program. Call it @code{mylib-twiddle-files} in your program, | |
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58 and send mail to @samp{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} suggesting we add |
6552 | 59 it to Emacs. If and when we do, we can change the name easily enough. |
60 | |
61 If one prefix is insufficient, your package may use two or three | |
62 alternative common prefixes, so long as they make sense. | |
63 | |
64 Separate the prefix from the rest of the symbol name with a hyphen, | |
65 @samp{-}. This will be consistent with Emacs itself and with most Emacs | |
66 Lisp programs. | |
67 | |
68 @item | |
69 It is often useful to put a call to @code{provide} in each separate | |
70 library program, at least if there is more than one entry point to the | |
71 program. | |
72 | |
73 @item | |
12098 | 74 If a file requires certain other library programs to be loaded |
75 beforehand, then the comments at the beginning of the file should say | |
76 so. Also, use @code{require} to make sure they are loaded. | |
77 | |
78 @item | |
6552 | 79 If one file @var{foo} uses a macro defined in another file @var{bar}, |
12098 | 80 @var{foo} should contain this expression before the first use of the |
81 macro: | |
82 | |
83 @example | |
84 (eval-when-compile (require '@var{bar})) | |
85 @end example | |
86 | |
87 @noindent | |
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88 (And the library @var{bar} should contain @code{(provide '@var{bar})}, |
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89 to make the @code{require} work.) This will cause @var{bar} to be |
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90 loaded when you byte-compile @var{foo}. Otherwise, you risk compiling |
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91 @var{foo} without the necessary macro loaded, and that would produce |
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92 compiled code that won't work right. @xref{Compiling Macros}. |
12098 | 93 |
94 Using @code{eval-when-compile} avoids loading @var{bar} when | |
95 the compiled version of @var{foo} is @emph{used}. | |
6552 | 96 |
97 @item | |
24799 | 98 Please don't require the @code{cl} package of Common Lisp extensions at |
99 run time. Use of this package is optional, and it is not part of the | |
100 standard Emacs namespace. If your package loads @code{cl} at run time, | |
101 that could cause name clashes for users who don't use that package. | |
102 | |
103 However, there is no problem with using the @code{cl} package at compile | |
104 time, for the sake of macros. You do that like this: | |
105 | |
106 @example | |
107 (eval-when-compile (require 'cl)) | |
108 @end example | |
109 | |
110 @item | |
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111 When defining a major mode, please follow the major mode |
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112 conventions. @xref{Major Mode Conventions}. |
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113 |
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114 @item |
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115 When defining a minor mode, please follow the minor mode |
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116 conventions. @xref{Minor Mode Conventions}. |
6552 | 117 |
118 @item | |
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119 If the purpose of a function is to tell you whether a certain condition |
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120 is true or false, give the function a name that ends in @samp{p}. If |
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121 the name is one word, add just @samp{p}; if the name is multiple words, |
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122 add @samp{-p}. Examples are @code{framep} and @code{frame-live-p}. |
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123 |
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124 @item |
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125 If a user option variable records a true-or-false condition, give it a |
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126 name that ends in @samp{-flag}. |
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127 |
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128 @item |
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129 If the purpose of a variable is to store a single function, give it a |
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130 name that ends in @samp{-function}. If the purpose of a variable is |
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131 to store a list of functions (i.e., the variable is a hook), please |
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132 follow the naming conventions for hooks. @xref{Hooks}. |
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133 |
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134 @item |
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135 @cindex reserved keys |
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136 @cindex keys, reserved |
6552 | 137 Please do not define @kbd{C-c @var{letter}} as a key in your major |
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138 modes. Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} and a letter (either upper |
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139 or lower case) are reserved for users; they are the @strong{only} |
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140 sequences reserved for users, so do not block them. |
6552 | 141 |
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142 Changing all the Emacs major modes to respect this convention was a |
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143 lot of work; abandoning this convention would make that work go to |
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144 waste, and inconvenience users. Please comply with it. |
6552 | 145 |
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146 @item |
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147 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by a control character or a |
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148 digit are reserved for major modes. |
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149 |
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150 @item |
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151 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by @kbd{@{}, @kbd{@}}, |
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152 @kbd{<}, @kbd{>}, @kbd{:} or @kbd{;} are also reserved for major modes. |
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153 |
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154 @item |
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155 Sequences consisting of @kbd{C-c} followed by any other punctuation |
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156 character are allocated for minor modes. Using them in a major mode is |
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157 not absolutely prohibited, but if you do that, the major mode binding |
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158 may be shadowed from time to time by minor modes. |
6552 | 159 |
160 @item | |
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161 Function keys @key{F5} through @key{F9} without modifier keys are |
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162 reserved for users to define. |
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163 |
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164 @item |
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165 Do not bind @kbd{C-h} following any prefix character (including |
6552 | 166 @kbd{C-c}). If you don't bind @kbd{C-h}, it is automatically available |
167 as a help character for listing the subcommands of the prefix character. | |
168 | |
169 @item | |
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170 Do not bind a key sequence ending in @key{ESC} except following |
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171 another @key{ESC}. (That is, it is OK to bind a sequence ending in |
6552 | 172 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}}.) |
173 | |
174 The reason for this rule is that a non-prefix binding for @key{ESC} in | |
175 any context prevents recognition of escape sequences as function keys in | |
176 that context. | |
177 | |
178 @item | |
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179 Anything which acts like a temporary mode or state which the user can |
24862 | 180 enter and leave should define @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} or |
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181 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as a way to escape. |
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182 |
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183 For a state which accepts ordinary Emacs commands, or more generally any |
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184 kind of state in which @key{ESC} followed by a function key or arrow key |
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185 is potentially meaningful, then you must not define @kbd{@key{ESC} |
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186 @key{ESC}}, since that would preclude recognizing an escape sequence |
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187 after @key{ESC}. In these states, you should define @kbd{@key{ESC} |
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188 @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} as the way to escape. Otherwise, define |
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189 @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}} instead. |
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190 |
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191 @item |
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192 Applications should not bind mouse events based on button 1 with the |
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193 shift key held down. These events include @kbd{S-mouse-1}, |
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194 @kbd{M-S-mouse-1}, @kbd{C-S-mouse-1}, and so on. They are reserved for |
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195 users. |
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196 |
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197 @item |
34305 | 198 @cindex mouse-2 |
199 @cindex references, following | |
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200 Special major modes used for read-only text should usually redefine |
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201 @kbd{mouse-2} and @key{RET} to trace some sort of reference in the text. |
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202 Modes such as Dired, Info, Compilation, and Occur redefine it in this |
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203 way. |
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204 |
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205 @item |
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206 When a package provides a modification of ordinary Emacs behavior, it is |
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207 good to include a command to enable and disable the feature, provide a |
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208 command named @code{@var{whatever}-mode} which turns the feature on or |
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209 off, and make it autoload (@pxref{Autoload}). Design the package so |
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210 that simply loading it has no visible effect---that should not enable |
34305 | 211 the feature.@footnote{Consider that the package may be loaded |
212 arbitrarily by Custom for instance.} Users will request the feature by | |
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213 invoking the command. It is a good idea to define this command |
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214 as a minor mode. |
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215 |
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216 @cindex unloading packages |
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217 If loading the file adds functions to hooks, define a function |
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218 @code{@var{feature}-unload-hook}, where @var{feature} is the name of |
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219 the feature the package provides, and make it undo any such changes. |
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220 Using @code{unload-feature} to unload the file will run this function. |
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221 @xref{Unloading}. |
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222 |
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223 @item |
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224 It is a bad idea to define aliases for the Emacs primitives. Use the |
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225 standard names instead. |
6552 | 226 |
227 @item | |
34305 | 228 If a package needs to define an alias or a new function for |
38344 | 229 compatibility with some other version of Emacs, name it with the package |
34305 | 230 prefix, not with the raw name with which it occurs in the other version. |
231 Here is an example from Gnus, which provides many examples of such | |
232 compatibility issues. | |
233 | |
234 @example | |
235 (defalias 'gnus-point-at-bol | |
236 (if (fboundp 'point-at-bol) | |
237 'point-at-bol | |
238 'line-beginning-position)) | |
239 @end example | |
240 | |
241 @item | |
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242 Redefining (or advising) an Emacs primitive is discouraged. It may do |
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243 the right thing for a particular program, but there is no telling what |
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244 other programs might break as a result. |
6552 | 245 |
246 @item | |
247 If a file does replace any of the functions or library programs of | |
248 standard Emacs, prominent comments at the beginning of the file should | |
249 say which functions are replaced, and how the behavior of the | |
250 replacements differs from that of the originals. | |
251 | |
252 @item | |
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253 Avoid using macros that define functions and variables with names that |
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254 are constructed. It is best for maintenance when the name of the |
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255 function or variable being defined is given explicitly in the source |
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256 code, as the second element of the list---as it is when you use |
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257 @code{defun}, @code{defalias}, @code{defvar} and @code{defcustom}. |
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258 |
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259 @item |
6552 | 260 Please keep the names of your Emacs Lisp source files to 13 characters |
261 or less. This way, if the files are compiled, the compiled files' names | |
262 will be 14 characters or less, which is short enough to fit on all kinds | |
263 of Unix systems. | |
264 | |
265 @item | |
266 Don't use @code{next-line} or @code{previous-line} in programs; nearly | |
267 always, @code{forward-line} is more convenient as well as more | |
268 predictable and robust. @xref{Text Lines}. | |
269 | |
270 @item | |
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271 Don't call functions that set the mark, unless setting the mark is one |
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272 of the intended features of your program. The mark is a user-level |
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273 feature, so it is incorrect to change the mark except to supply a value |
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274 for the user's benefit. @xref{The Mark}. |
6552 | 275 |
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276 In particular, don't use any of these functions: |
6552 | 277 |
278 @itemize @bullet | |
279 @item | |
280 @code{beginning-of-buffer}, @code{end-of-buffer} | |
281 @item | |
282 @code{replace-string}, @code{replace-regexp} | |
283 @end itemize | |
284 | |
285 If you just want to move point, or replace a certain string, without any | |
286 of the other features intended for interactive users, you can replace | |
287 these functions with one or two lines of simple Lisp code. | |
288 | |
289 @item | |
8669 | 290 Use lists rather than vectors, except when there is a particular reason |
291 to use a vector. Lisp has more facilities for manipulating lists than | |
292 for vectors, and working with lists is usually more convenient. | |
293 | |
294 Vectors are advantageous for tables that are substantial in size and are | |
295 accessed in random order (not searched front to back), provided there is | |
296 no need to insert or delete elements (only lists allow that). | |
297 | |
298 @item | |
6552 | 299 The recommended way to print a message in the echo area is with |
300 the @code{message} function, not @code{princ}. @xref{The Echo Area}. | |
301 | |
302 @item | |
303 When you encounter an error condition, call the function @code{error} | |
304 (or @code{signal}). The function @code{error} does not return. | |
305 @xref{Signaling Errors}. | |
306 | |
307 Do not use @code{message}, @code{throw}, @code{sleep-for}, | |
308 or @code{beep} to report errors. | |
309 | |
310 @item | |
12098 | 311 An error message should start with a capital letter but should not end |
312 with a period. | |
313 | |
314 @item | |
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315 In @code{interactive}, if you use a Lisp expression to produce a list |
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316 of arguments, don't try to provide the ``correct'' default values for |
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317 region or position arguments. Instead, provide @code{nil} for those |
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318 arguments if they were not specified, and have the function body |
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319 compute the default value when the argument is @code{nil}. For |
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320 instance, write this: |
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321 |
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322 @example |
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323 (defun foo (pos) |
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324 (interactive |
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325 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos}))) |
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326 (unless pos (setq pos @var{default-pos})) |
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327 ...) |
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328 @end example |
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329 |
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330 @noindent |
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331 rather than this: |
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332 |
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333 @example |
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334 (defun foo (pos) |
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335 (interactive |
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336 (list (if @var{specified} @var{specified-pos} |
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337 @var{default-pos}))) |
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338 ...) |
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339 @end example |
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340 |
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341 @noindent |
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342 This is so that repetition of the command will recompute |
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343 these defaults based on the current circumstances. |
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344 |
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345 You do not need to take such precautions when you use interactive |
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346 specs @samp{d}, @samp{m} and @samp{r}, because they make special |
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347 arrangements to recompute the argument values on repetition of the |
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348 command. |
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349 |
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350 @item |
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351 Many commands that take a long time to execute display a message that |
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352 says something like @samp{Operating...} when they start, and change it to |
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353 @samp{Operating...done} when they finish. Please keep the style of |
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354 these messages uniform: @emph{no} space around the ellipsis, and |
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355 @emph{no} period after @samp{done}. |
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356 |
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357 @item |
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358 Try to avoid using recursive edits. Instead, do what the Rmail @kbd{e} |
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359 command does: use a new local keymap that contains one command defined |
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360 to switch back to the old local keymap. Or do what the |
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361 @code{edit-options} command does: switch to another buffer and let the |
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362 user switch back at will. @xref{Recursive Editing}. |
6552 | 363 |
364 @item | |
365 In some other systems there is a convention of choosing variable names | |
366 that begin and end with @samp{*}. We don't use that convention in Emacs | |
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367 Lisp, so please don't use it in your programs. (Emacs uses such names |
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368 only for special-purpose buffers.) The users will find Emacs more |
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369 coherent if all libraries use the same conventions. |
6552 | 370 |
371 @item | |
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372 Try to avoid compiler warnings about undefined free variables, by adding |
15198 | 373 @code{defvar} definitions for these variables. |
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374 |
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375 Sometimes adding a @code{require} for another package is useful to avoid |
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376 compilation warnings for variables and functions defined in that |
26211 | 377 package. If you do this, often it is better if the @code{require} acts |
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378 only at compile time. Here's how to do that: |
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379 |
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380 @example |
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381 (eval-when-compile |
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382 (require 'foo) |
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383 (defvar bar-baz)) |
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384 @end example |
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385 |
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386 If you bind a variable in one function, and use it or set it in another |
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387 function, the compiler warns about the latter function unless the |
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388 variable has a definition. But often these variables have short names, |
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389 and it is not clean for Lisp packages to define such variable names. |
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390 Therefore, you should rename the variable to start with the name prefix |
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391 used for the other functions and variables in your package. |
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392 |
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393 @item |
6552 | 394 Indent each function with @kbd{C-M-q} (@code{indent-sexp}) using the |
395 default indentation parameters. | |
396 | |
397 @item | |
398 Don't make a habit of putting close-parentheses on lines by themselves; | |
399 Lisp programmers find this disconcerting. Once in a while, when there | |
400 is a sequence of many consecutive close-parentheses, it may make sense | |
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401 to split the sequence in one or two significant places. |
6552 | 402 |
403 @item | |
404 Please put a copyright notice on the file if you give copies to anyone. | |
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405 Use a message like this one: |
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406 |
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407 @smallexample |
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408 ;; Copyright (C) @var{year} @var{name} |
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409 |
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410 ;; This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or |
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411 ;; modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as |
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412 ;; published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of |
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413 ;; the License, or (at your option) any later version. |
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414 |
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415 ;; This program is distributed in the hope that it will be |
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416 ;; useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied |
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417 ;; warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR |
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418 ;; PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. |
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419 |
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420 ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public |
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421 ;; License along with this program; if not, write to the Free |
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422 ;; Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, |
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423 ;; MA 02111-1307 USA |
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424 @end smallexample |
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425 |
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426 If you have signed papers to assign the copyright to the Foundation, |
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427 then use @samp{Free Software Foundation, Inc.} as @var{name}. |
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428 Otherwise, use your name. |
6552 | 429 @end itemize |
430 | |
431 @node Compilation Tips | |
432 @section Tips for Making Compiled Code Fast | |
433 @cindex execution speed | |
434 @cindex speedups | |
435 | |
436 Here are ways of improving the execution speed of byte-compiled | |
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437 Lisp programs. |
6552 | 438 |
439 @itemize @bullet | |
440 @item | |
441 @cindex profiling | |
442 @cindex timing programs | |
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443 @cindex @file{elp.el} |
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444 Profile your program with the @file{elp} library. See the file |
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445 @file{elp.el} for instructions. |
6552 | 446 |
447 @item | |
448 Use iteration rather than recursion whenever possible. | |
449 Function calls are slow in Emacs Lisp even when a compiled function | |
450 is calling another compiled function. | |
451 | |
452 @item | |
12098 | 453 Using the primitive list-searching functions @code{memq}, @code{member}, |
454 @code{assq}, or @code{assoc} is even faster than explicit iteration. It | |
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455 can be worth rearranging a data structure so that one of these primitive |
12098 | 456 search functions can be used. |
6552 | 457 |
458 @item | |
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459 Certain built-in functions are handled specially in byte-compiled code, |
6552 | 460 avoiding the need for an ordinary function call. It is a good idea to |
461 use these functions rather than alternatives. To see whether a function | |
462 is handled specially by the compiler, examine its @code{byte-compile} | |
463 property. If the property is non-@code{nil}, then the function is | |
464 handled specially. | |
465 | |
466 For example, the following input will show you that @code{aref} is | |
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467 compiled specially (@pxref{Array Functions}): |
6552 | 468 |
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469 @example |
6552 | 470 @group |
471 (get 'aref 'byte-compile) | |
472 @result{} byte-compile-two-args | |
473 @end group | |
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474 @end example |
6552 | 475 |
476 @item | |
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477 If calling a small function accounts for a substantial part of your |
6552 | 478 program's running time, make the function inline. This eliminates |
479 the function call overhead. Since making a function inline reduces | |
480 the flexibility of changing the program, don't do it unless it gives | |
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481 a noticeable speedup in something slow enough that users care about |
6552 | 482 the speed. @xref{Inline Functions}. |
483 @end itemize | |
484 | |
485 @node Documentation Tips | |
486 @section Tips for Documentation Strings | |
487 | |
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488 @findex checkdoc-minor-mode |
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489 Here are some tips and conventions for the writing of documentation |
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490 strings. You can check many of these conventions by running the command |
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491 @kbd{M-x checkdoc-minor-mode}. |
6552 | 492 |
493 @itemize @bullet | |
494 @item | |
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495 Every command, function, or variable intended for users to know about |
6552 | 496 should have a documentation string. |
497 | |
498 @item | |
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499 An internal variable or subroutine of a Lisp program might as well have |
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500 a documentation string. In earlier Emacs versions, you could save space |
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501 by using a comment instead of a documentation string, but that is no |
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502 longer the case---documentation strings now take up very little space in |
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503 a running Emacs. |
6552 | 504 |
505 @item | |
42979 | 506 Format the documentation string so that it fits in an Emacs window on an |
507 80-column screen. It is a good idea for most lines to be no wider than | |
508 60 characters. The first line should not be wider than 67 characters | |
509 or it will look bad in the output of @code{apropos}. | |
510 | |
511 You can fill the text if that looks good. However, rather than blindly | |
512 filling the entire documentation string, you can often make it much more | |
513 readable by choosing certain line breaks with care. Use blank lines | |
514 between topics if the documentation string is long. | |
515 | |
516 @item | |
6552 | 517 The first line of the documentation string should consist of one or two |
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518 complete sentences that stand on their own as a summary. @kbd{M-x |
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519 apropos} displays just the first line, and if that line's contents don't |
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520 stand on their own, the result looks bad. In particular, start the |
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521 first line with a capital letter and end with a period. |
6552 | 522 |
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523 For a function, the first line should briefly answer the question, |
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524 ``What does this function do?'' For a variable, the first line should |
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525 briefly answer the question, ``What does this value mean?'' |
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526 |
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527 Don't limit the documentation string to one line; use as many lines as |
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528 you need to explain the details of how to use the function or |
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529 variable. Please use complete sentences for the rest of the text too. |
6552 | 530 |
531 @item | |
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532 The first line should mention all the important arguments of the |
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533 function, and should mention them in the order that they are written |
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534 in a function call. If the function has many arguments, then it is |
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535 not feasible to mention them all in the first line; in that case, the |
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536 first line should mention the first few arguments, including the most |
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537 important arguments. |
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538 |
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539 @item |
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540 For consistency, phrase the verb in the first sentence of a function's |
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541 documentation string as an imperative---for instance, use ``Return the |
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542 cons of A and B.'' in preference to ``Returns the cons of A and B@.'' |
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543 Usually it looks good to do likewise for the rest of the first |
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544 paragraph. Subsequent paragraphs usually look better if each sentence |
42979 | 545 is indicative and has a proper subject. |
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546 |
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547 @item |
6552 | 548 Write documentation strings in the active voice, not the passive, and in |
549 the present tense, not the future. For instance, use ``Return a list | |
550 containing A and B.'' instead of ``A list containing A and B will be | |
551 returned.'' | |
552 | |
553 @item | |
554 Avoid using the word ``cause'' (or its equivalents) unnecessarily. | |
555 Instead of, ``Cause Emacs to display text in boldface,'' write just | |
556 ``Display text in boldface.'' | |
557 | |
558 @item | |
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559 When a command is meaningful only in a certain mode or situation, |
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560 do mention that in the documentation string. For example, |
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561 the documentation of @code{dired-find-file} is: |
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562 |
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563 @example |
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564 In Dired, visit the file or directory named on this line. |
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565 @end example |
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566 |
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567 @item |
6552 | 568 Do not start or end a documentation string with whitespace. |
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569 |
6552 | 570 @item |
571 @strong{Do not} indent subsequent lines of a documentation string so | |
572 that the text is lined up in the source code with the text of the first | |
573 line. This looks nice in the source code, but looks bizarre when users | |
574 view the documentation. Remember that the indentation before the | |
575 starting double-quote is not part of the string! | |
576 | |
577 @item | |
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578 When the user tries to use a disabled command, Emacs displays just the |
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579 first paragraph of its documentation string---everything through the |
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580 first blank line. If you wish, you can choose which information to |
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581 include before the first blank line so as to make this display useful. |
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582 |
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583 @item |
6552 | 584 A variable's documentation string should start with @samp{*} if the |
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585 variable is one that users would often want to set interactively. If |
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586 the value is a long list, or a function, or if the variable would be set |
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587 only in init files, then don't start the documentation string with |
6552 | 588 @samp{*}. @xref{Defining Variables}. |
589 | |
590 @item | |
591 The documentation string for a variable that is a yes-or-no flag should | |
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592 start with words such as ``Non-nil means@dots{}'', to make it clear that |
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593 all non-@code{nil} values are equivalent and indicate explicitly what |
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594 @code{nil} and non-@code{nil} mean. |
6552 | 595 |
596 @item | |
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597 The documentation string for a function that is a yes-or-no predicate |
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598 should start with words such as ``Return t if @dots{}'', to indicate |
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599 explicitly what constitutes ``truth''. The word ``return'' avoids |
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600 starting the sentence with lower-case ``t'', which is somewhat |
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601 distracting. |
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602 |
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603 @item |
6552 | 604 When a function's documentation string mentions the value of an argument |
605 of the function, use the argument name in capital letters as if it were | |
606 a name for that value. Thus, the documentation string of the function | |
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607 @code{eval} refers to its second argument as @samp{FORM}, because the |
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608 actual argument name is @code{form}: |
6552 | 609 |
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610 @example |
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611 Evaluate FORM and return its value. |
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612 @end example |
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613 |
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614 Also write metasyntactic variables in capital letters, such as when you |
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615 show the decomposition of a list or vector into subunits, some of which |
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616 may vary. @samp{KEY} and @samp{VALUE} in the following example |
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617 illustrate this practice: |
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618 |
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619 @example |
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620 The argument TABLE should be an alist whose elements |
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621 have the form (KEY . VALUE). Here, KEY is ... |
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622 @end example |
6552 | 623 |
624 @item | |
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625 Never change the case of a Lisp symbol when you mention it in a doc |
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626 string. If the symbol's name is @code{foo}, write ``foo'', not |
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627 ``Foo'' (which is a different symbol). |
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628 |
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629 This might appear to contradict the policy of writing function |
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630 argument values, but there is no real contradiction; the argument |
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631 @emph{value} is not the same thing as the @emph{symbol} which the |
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632 function uses to hold the value. |
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633 |
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634 If this puts a lower-case letter at the beginning of a sentence |
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635 and that annoys you, rewrite the sentence so that the symbol |
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636 is not at the start of it. |
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637 |
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638 @item |
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639 If a line in a documentation string begins with an open-parenthesis, |
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640 write a backslash before the open-parenthesis, like this: |
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641 |
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642 @example |
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643 The argument FOO can be either a number |
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644 \(a buffer position) or a string (a file name). |
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645 @end example |
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646 |
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647 This prevents the open-parenthesis from being treated as the start of a |
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648 defun (@pxref{Defuns,, Defuns, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). |
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649 |
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650 @anchor{Docstring hyperlinks} |
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651 @item |
6552 | 652 @iftex |
653 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it | |
654 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes | |
655 around it. For example: @samp{`lambda'}. There are two exceptions: | |
656 write @code{t} and @code{nil} without single-quotes. | |
657 @end iftex | |
27193 | 658 @ifnottex |
6552 | 659 When a documentation string refers to a Lisp symbol, write it as it |
660 would be printed (which usually means in lower case), with single-quotes | |
661 around it. For example: @samp{lambda}. There are two exceptions: write | |
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662 t and nil without single-quotes. (In this manual, we use a different |
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663 convention, with single-quotes for all symbols.) |
27193 | 664 @end ifnottex |
6552 | 665 |
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666 Help mode automatically creates a hyperlink when a documentation string |
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667 uses a symbol name inside single quotes, if the symbol has either a |
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668 function or a variable definition. You do not need to do anything |
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669 special to make use of this feature. However, when a symbol has both a |
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670 function definition and a variable definition, and you want to refer to |
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671 just one of them, you can specify which one by writing one of the words |
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672 @samp{variable}, @samp{option}, @samp{function}, or @samp{command}, |
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673 immediately before the symbol name. (Case makes no difference in |
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674 recognizing these indicator words.) For example, if you write |
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675 |
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676 @example |
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677 This function sets the variable `buffer-file-name'. |
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678 @end example |
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679 |
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680 @noindent |
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681 then the hyperlink will refer only to the variable documentation of |
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682 @code{buffer-file-name}, and not to its function documentation. |
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683 |
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684 If a symbol has a function definition and/or a variable definition, but |
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685 those are irrelevant to the use of the symbol that you are documenting, |
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686 you can write the word @samp{symbol} before the symbol name to prevent |
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687 making any hyperlink. For example, |
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688 |
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689 @example |
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690 If the argument KIND-OF-RESULT is the symbol `list', |
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691 this function returns a list of all the objects |
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692 that satisfy the criterion. |
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693 @end example |
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694 |
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695 @noindent |
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696 does not make a hyperlink to the documentation, irrelevant here, of the |
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697 function @code{list}. |
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698 |
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699 Normally, no hyperlink is made for a variable without variable |
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700 documentation. You can force a hyperlink for such variables by |
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701 preceding them with one of the words @samp{variable} or |
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702 @samp{option}. |
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703 |
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704 Hyperlinks for faces are only made if the face name is preceded or |
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705 followed by the word @samp{face}. In that case, only the face |
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706 documentation will be shown, even if the symbol is also defined as a |
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707 variable or as a function. |
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708 |
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709 To make a hyperlink to Info documentation, write the name of the Info |
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710 node (or anchor) in single quotes, preceded by @samp{info node}, |
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711 @samp{Info node}, @samp{info anchor} or @samp{Info anchor}. The Info |
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712 file name defaults to @samp{emacs}. For example, |
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713 |
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714 @smallexample |
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715 See Info node `Font Lock' and Info node `(elisp)Font Lock Basics'. |
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716 @end smallexample |
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717 |
6552 | 718 @item |
719 Don't write key sequences directly in documentation strings. Instead, | |
720 use the @samp{\\[@dots{}]} construct to stand for them. For example, | |
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721 instead of writing @samp{C-f}, write the construct |
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722 @samp{\\[forward-char]}. When Emacs displays the documentation string, |
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723 it substitutes whatever key is currently bound to @code{forward-char}. |
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724 (This is normally @samp{C-f}, but it may be some other character if the |
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725 user has moved key bindings.) @xref{Keys in Documentation}. |
6552 | 726 |
727 @item | |
728 In documentation strings for a major mode, you will want to refer to the | |
729 key bindings of that mode's local map, rather than global ones. | |
730 Therefore, use the construct @samp{\\<@dots{}>} once in the | |
731 documentation string to specify which key map to use. Do this before | |
732 the first use of @samp{\\[@dots{}]}. The text inside the | |
733 @samp{\\<@dots{}>} should be the name of the variable containing the | |
734 local keymap for the major mode. | |
735 | |
736 It is not practical to use @samp{\\[@dots{}]} very many times, because | |
737 display of the documentation string will become slow. So use this to | |
738 describe the most important commands in your major mode, and then use | |
739 @samp{\\@{@dots{}@}} to display the rest of the mode's keymap. | |
740 @end itemize | |
741 | |
742 @node Comment Tips | |
743 @section Tips on Writing Comments | |
744 | |
745 We recommend these conventions for where to put comments and how to | |
746 indent them: | |
747 | |
748 @table @samp | |
749 @item ; | |
750 Comments that start with a single semicolon, @samp{;}, should all be | |
751 aligned to the same column on the right of the source code. Such | |
752 comments usually explain how the code on the same line does its job. In | |
753 Lisp mode and related modes, the @kbd{M-;} (@code{indent-for-comment}) | |
754 command automatically inserts such a @samp{;} in the right place, or | |
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755 aligns such a comment if it is already present. |
6552 | 756 |
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757 This and following examples are taken from the Emacs sources. |
6552 | 758 |
759 @smallexample | |
760 @group | |
761 (setq base-version-list ; there was a base | |
762 (assoc (substring fn 0 start-vn) ; version to which | |
763 file-version-assoc-list)) ; this looks like | |
764 ; a subversion | |
765 @end group | |
766 @end smallexample | |
767 | |
768 @item ;; | |
769 Comments that start with two semicolons, @samp{;;}, should be aligned to | |
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770 the same level of indentation as the code. Such comments usually |
6552 | 771 describe the purpose of the following lines or the state of the program |
772 at that point. For example: | |
773 | |
774 @smallexample | |
775 @group | |
776 (prog1 (setq auto-fill-function | |
777 @dots{} | |
778 @dots{} | |
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779 ;; update mode line |
6552 | 780 (force-mode-line-update))) |
781 @end group | |
782 @end smallexample | |
783 | |
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784 We also normally use two semicolons for comments outside functions. |
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785 |
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786 @smallexample |
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787 @group |
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788 ;; This Lisp code is run in Emacs |
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789 ;; when it is to operate as a server |
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790 ;; for other processes. |
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791 @end group |
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792 @end smallexample |
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793 |
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794 Every function that has no documentation string (presumably one that is |
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795 used only internally within the package it belongs to), should instead |
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796 have a two-semicolon comment right before the function, explaining what |
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797 the function does and how to call it properly. Explain precisely what |
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798 each argument means and how the function interprets its possible values. |
6552 | 799 |
800 @item ;;; | |
801 Comments that start with three semicolons, @samp{;;;}, should start at | |
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802 the left margin. These are used, occasionally, for comments within |
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803 functions that should start at the margin. We also use them sometimes |
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804 for comments that are between functions---whether to use two or three |
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805 semicolons depends on whether the comment should be considered a |
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806 ``heading'' by Outline minor mode. By default, comments starting with |
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807 at least three semicolons (followed by a single space and a |
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808 non-whitespace character) are considered headings, comments starting |
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809 with two or less are not. |
6552 | 810 |
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811 Another use for triple-semicolon comments is for commenting out lines |
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812 within a function. We use three semicolons for this precisely so that |
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813 they remain at the left margin. By default, Outline minor mode does |
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814 not consider a comment to be a heading (even if it starts with at |
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815 least three semicolons) if the semicolons are followed by at least two |
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816 spaces. Thus, if you add an introductory comment to the commented out |
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817 code, make sure to indent it by at least two spaces after the three |
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818 semicolons. |
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819 |
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820 @smallexample |
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821 (defun foo (a) |
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822 ;;; This is no longer necessary. |
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823 ;;; (force-mode-line-update) |
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824 (message "Finished with %s" a)) |
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825 @end smallexample |
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826 |
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827 When commenting out entire functions, use two semicolons. |
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828 |
6552 | 829 @item ;;;; |
830 Comments that start with four semicolons, @samp{;;;;}, should be aligned | |
831 to the left margin and are used for headings of major sections of a | |
832 program. For example: | |
833 | |
834 @smallexample | |
835 ;;;; The kill ring | |
836 @end smallexample | |
837 @end table | |
838 | |
839 @noindent | |
840 The indentation commands of the Lisp modes in Emacs, such as @kbd{M-;} | |
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841 (@code{indent-for-comment}) and @key{TAB} (@code{lisp-indent-line}), |
6552 | 842 automatically indent comments according to these conventions, |
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843 depending on the number of semicolons. @xref{Comments,, |
6552 | 844 Manipulating Comments, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
845 | |
846 @node Library Headers | |
847 @section Conventional Headers for Emacs Libraries | |
848 @cindex header comments | |
849 @cindex library header comments | |
850 | |
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851 Emacs has conventions for using special comments in Lisp libraries |
6552 | 852 to divide them into sections and give information such as who wrote |
25751
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853 them. This section explains these conventions. |
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854 |
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855 We'll start with an example, a package that is included in the Emacs |
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856 distribution. |
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857 |
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858 Parts of this example reflect its status as part of Emacs; for |
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859 example, the copyright notice lists the Free Software Foundation as the |
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860 copyright holder, and the copying permission says the file is part of |
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861 Emacs. When you write a package and post it, the copyright holder would |
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862 be you (unless your employer claims to own it instead), and you should |
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863 get the suggested copying permission from the end of the GNU General |
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864 Public License itself. Don't say your file is part of Emacs |
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865 if we haven't installed it in Emacs yet! |
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866 |
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867 With that warning out of the way, on to the example: |
6552 | 868 |
869 @smallexample | |
870 @group | |
871 ;;; lisp-mnt.el --- minor mode for Emacs Lisp maintainers | |
872 | |
873 ;; Copyright (C) 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
874 @end group | |
875 | |
876 ;; Author: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> | |
877 ;; Maintainer: Eric S. Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> | |
878 ;; Created: 14 Jul 1992 | |
879 ;; Version: 1.2 | |
880 @group | |
881 ;; Keywords: docs | |
882 | |
883 ;; This file is part of GNU Emacs. | |
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884 @dots{} |
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885 ;; Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, |
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886 ;; Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA. |
6552 | 887 @end group |
888 @end smallexample | |
889 | |
890 The very first line should have this format: | |
891 | |
892 @example | |
893 ;;; @var{filename} --- @var{description} | |
894 @end example | |
895 | |
896 @noindent | |
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897 The description should be complete in one line. If the file |
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898 needs a @samp{-*-} specification, put it after @var{description}. |
6552 | 899 |
900 After the copyright notice come several @dfn{header comment} lines, | |
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901 each beginning with @samp{;; @var{header-name}:}. Here is a table of |
6552 | 902 the conventional possibilities for @var{header-name}: |
903 | |
904 @table @samp | |
905 @item Author | |
906 This line states the name and net address of at least the principal | |
907 author of the library. | |
908 | |
909 If there are multiple authors, you can list them on continuation lines | |
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910 led by @code{;;} and a tab character, like this: |
6552 | 911 |
912 @smallexample | |
913 @group | |
914 ;; Author: Ashwin Ram <Ram-Ashwin@@cs.yale.edu> | |
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915 ;; Dave Sill <de5@@ornl.gov> |
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916 ;; Dave Brennan <brennan@@hal.com> |
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917 ;; Eric Raymond <esr@@snark.thyrsus.com> |
6552 | 918 @end group |
919 @end smallexample | |
920 | |
921 @item Maintainer | |
922 This line should contain a single name/address as in the Author line, or | |
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923 an address only, or the string @samp{FSF}. If there is no maintainer |
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924 line, the person(s) in the Author field are presumed to be the |
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925 maintainers. The example above is mildly bogus because the maintainer |
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926 line is redundant. |
6552 | 927 |
928 The idea behind the @samp{Author} and @samp{Maintainer} lines is to make | |
929 possible a Lisp function to ``send mail to the maintainer'' without | |
930 having to mine the name out by hand. | |
931 | |
932 Be sure to surround the network address with @samp{<@dots{}>} if | |
933 you include the person's full name as well as the network address. | |
934 | |
935 @item Created | |
936 This optional line gives the original creation date of the | |
937 file. For historical interest only. | |
938 | |
939 @item Version | |
940 If you wish to record version numbers for the individual Lisp program, put | |
941 them in this line. | |
942 | |
943 @item Adapted-By | |
944 In this header line, place the name of the person who adapted the | |
945 library for installation (to make it fit the style conventions, for | |
946 example). | |
947 | |
948 @item Keywords | |
949 This line lists keywords for the @code{finder-by-keyword} help command. | |
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950 Please use that command to see a list of the meaningful keywords. |
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951 |
6552 | 952 This field is important; it's how people will find your package when |
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953 they're looking for things by topic area. To separate the keywords, you |
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954 can use spaces, commas, or both. |
6552 | 955 @end table |
956 | |
957 Just about every Lisp library ought to have the @samp{Author} and | |
958 @samp{Keywords} header comment lines. Use the others if they are | |
959 appropriate. You can also put in header lines with other header | |
960 names---they have no standard meanings, so they can't do any harm. | |
961 | |
962 We use additional stylized comments to subdivide the contents of the | |
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963 library file. These should be separated by blank lines from anything |
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964 else. Here is a table of them: |
6552 | 965 |
966 @table @samp | |
967 @item ;;; Commentary: | |
968 This begins introductory comments that explain how the library works. | |
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969 It should come right after the copying permissions, terminated by a |
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970 @samp{Change Log}, @samp{History} or @samp{Code} comment line. This |
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971 text is used by the Finder package, so it should make sense in that |
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972 context. |
6552 | 973 |
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974 @item ;;; Documentation: |
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975 This was used in some files in place of @samp{;;; Commentary:}, |
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(Library Headers): Clean up Documentation.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
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976 but it is deprecated. |
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*** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
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977 |
d4ac295a98b3
*** empty log message ***
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
21682
diff
changeset
|
978 @item ;;; Change Log: |
6552 | 979 This begins change log information stored in the library file (if you |
26696
ef5e7bbe6f19
Current version from /gd/gnu/elisp.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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changeset
|
980 store the change history there). For Lisp files distributed with Emacs, |
ef5e7bbe6f19
Current version from /gd/gnu/elisp.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
26211
diff
changeset
|
981 the change history is kept in the file @file{ChangeLog} and not in the |
ef5e7bbe6f19
Current version from /gd/gnu/elisp.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
26211
diff
changeset
|
982 source file at all; these files generally do not have a @samp{;;; Change |
ef5e7bbe6f19
Current version from /gd/gnu/elisp.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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983 Log:} line. @samp{History} is an alternative to @samp{Change Log}. |
6552 | 984 |
985 @item ;;; Code: | |
986 This begins the actual code of the program. | |
987 | |
988 @item ;;; @var{filename} ends here | |
989 This is the @dfn{footer line}; it appears at the very end of the file. | |
990 Its purpose is to enable people to detect truncated versions of the file | |
991 from the lack of a footer line. | |
992 @end table | |
52401 | 993 |
994 @ignore | |
995 arch-tag: 9ea911c2-6b1d-47dd-88b7-0a94e8b27c2e | |
996 @end ignore |